Bracker Wealth Management

06/03/2026

Westfair has always been close to our hearts, and John and I are honored to serve on the committee working to build its future. With the current Iowa West Foundation matching opportunity in place, there’s never been a better time to join us in investing in our local fairgrounds!

For generations, Westfair has been part of our story. Now, it’s our turn to invest in what comes next…strengthening our fairgrounds, improving infrastructure and creating opportunities for youth, families and our entire region.

The future won’t build itself. It takes all of us...including YOU!

With a current matching opportunity in place thanks to Iowa West Foundation and their belief in our vision, every gift can go even further.

It’s time to get involved. Join us in creating a future the past would be proud of. Show your support by following the link: https://www.westfair.org/spirit-of-westfair

And remember, EVERY gift counts! We appreciate your support!

05/26/2026

While most people unwind on the weekend with a movie or a good book, John’s idea of "quiet time" is a little different. Give him a fresh cup of coffee, a quiet room, and a stack of quarterly earnings reports, and he is genuinely in his happy place.

John is incredibly thorough and, to be honest, a bit obsessed with tracking the micro-movements of the market. He lives for this data.

Right now, he’s focused on the latest earnings season. As you can see in this chart, the sheer scale of the "Big Seven's" earnings is a prime example of why he watches the numbers so closely. Every earnings season has its own rhythm, but the undeniable influence of just a handful of massive companies shapes the entire landscape.

05/20/2026

As graduation season starts, our team went digging through the archives and unearthed our own high school senior photos from the 1999–2010 era. Yes, some of these trends are now officially considered "vintage"—we'll let you judge who rocked the late-90s/early-2000s style best! 🫣😂

Most importantly, we want to say congratulations to the Classes of 2026 of all of our local graduates and their families!

Graduation is a true team sport, and this milestone belongs to the parents, grandparents, siblings, and guardians who provided the support to make it possible. 🤝❤️ Congratulations 2026 Graduates -- the world awaits!

05/15/2026

We believe in being intentional—both with your portfolio and our community.

While our days are spent navigating market strategies, our hearts are firmly planted here in Southwest Iowa. From Abby’s work with the Council Bluffs Public Library and PACE boards, to John’s leadership with Westfair Fairgrounds and Amphitheater to Bailey’s dedicated support of Humane Pet Services (she’s a self-proclaimed "animals over humans" advocate 🐕), we are committed to seeing Southwest Iowa thrive.

We’re proud to do business here, but we’re even prouder to be your neighbors. See you out in the community!

05/13/2026

That yellow section? That's money you never saved, your money made it for you.

This is compound interest in action. Start with $1,000/year at a hypothetical 5 percent return, and by year 30, you've built nearly $70,000. But the real story is the yellow: Interest earning interest.

Year 1: almost no interest at all.
Year 30: the interest on your interest alone might cover a year of car payments (or more).

You don't need to invest more. You need to stay focused on your strategy. And we are always here to help, if you need guidance or a trusted sounding board.

05/12/2026

Stocks surged in April, delivering their strongest monthly gains in five years as solid economic data, easing geopolitical tensions, and upbeat first-quarter earnings lifted investor sentiment. The Nasdaq climbed 15.29%, the S&P 500 rose 10.42%, and the Dow gained 7.14%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 3.65%. With no Fed meeting in May, attention turns to remarks from Fed officials and how evolving economic data may shape expectations moving forward. From \$34.1 billion in U.S. spending to the popularity of Mother’s Day dining and gifts, this month’s By the Numbers highlights how families celebrate the occasion.

Quarterly Market Insights | April 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks fell in the first quarter amid concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt certain industries and geopolitical issues that unsettled investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 3.58 percent while the Standard &...

05/11/2026

May is National Pet Month 🐶🐱🐾! Enjoy unconditional love, endless tail wags, snuggles, and pure happiness all wrapped in fur!

A special shoutout to our furry fan clubs: Poppy (Popsicle 🍧), Jaxy, Daphne, Alan, Gigi, Winnie, Catan, Noelle, and Sunny -- thanks for being the best fur animals ever 🥰

05/10/2026

Some of the best advice we’ve ever received didn’t come from a textbook or a market report—it came from the women who raised us. 💖

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms, aunts, grandmas, dog moms, and strong women out there! We see the work you do behind the scenes, the late nights, the constant encouragement, and the way you make the world feel a little bit happier for those around you.

From our office family to yours, we hope your day is filled with a little bit of peace and a lot of appreciation. You’ve earned it!

05/08/2026

It's not a true day in the office unless everyone (cough ABBY cough) has multiple drinks sitting on their desk 😀🥤🥛🍵

With the weather warming up, our team is ready for summer! From John’s "daring" switch to iced coffee to Erica's classic pick, here are our favorite summer sips.

John: Iced Coffee
Erica: A classic Arnold Palmer
Bailey: Flavored Lemonade
Abby: Sweet Iced Sun Tea

05/06/2026

John's favorite hobby (besides drinking coffee) is digging into market history to understand where we're headed.

AI is clearly the next frontier, but history (and Warren Buffett) teaches us that being first doesn't mean being the survivor. Think of the 300 car companies that started the 20th century—only The Big Three stood the test of time. We believe in the power of AI, but we’re focused on finding the companies with staying power, not just the ones with the loudest marketing.

Two out of every three S&P 500 companies mentioned AI on their Q4 earnings calls. That's not a trend. That's a signal.